A LIZARD was kept with no light and was not fed for six months in Lancaster by Rachael Blamire magistrates heard.

Miss Blamire of Green Street, pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to provide proper care and attention to the Bosque monitor lizard at the Lancaster court on Friday.

Her lawyer, Mr Halewood Dodd, said she tried to feed it with scraps but admitted that she did not give it its natural food or provide it with ultra violet light.

Speaking on behalf of the RSPCA for the prosecution Mr David Hardy said the animal weighed just 320grams when found on July 2, 1998 and put on 420 grams by 12 August. Vet David Longley of Carnforth had judged it to be very cold, extremely lethargic and emaciated.

He added: "During an interview on July 2 Miss Blamire said, 'I bought it for my boyfriend but he never got an ultra violet. I know I needed a UV light and I needed to feed it but I've got two young children and I can't afford it or get to the specialist shop called The Ark in Morecambe.'"

Speaking for Miss Blamire Mr Dodd said it was never ill treated through intent, she had split up with her boyfriend and he had never come to collect it despite promises, a friend was due to take the lizard to look after it on the day of the RSPCA visit and Miss Blamire had a cat with which the RSPCA had noticed no problems.

Miss Blamire, on income support, was ordered to pay £250 costs to the RSPCA at £6 a fortnight. She was also disqualified from having any reptile for three years.

Speaking after the hearing Inspector Chris Heyworth who found the lizard commented: "Reptiles are very popular maybe because of Jurassic Park but they're hard and expensive to look after. I've never seen an emaciated lizard in eight years in the job but I think this is the tip of the iceberg."

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